Comcasthttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/3761/all
enReport: New Apple TV Won't Launch Before 2015http://www.maclife.com/article/news/new-apple-tv-delayed-wont-launch-before-2015
<!--paging_filter--><p>For over a year, rumors have run rampant that Apple TV will get a revolutionary relaunch in 2014. But now, <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/Apple-s-TV-Push-Stalls-as-Partners-Hesitate" target="_blank"><em>The Information</em></a> reports, we may not see that new device until <em>at least</em> 2015 due to complications with ongoing content negotiations.</p><p>The next Apple TV, according to a "person familiar with the plans," is said to include major new features such as games, Siri voice control, and subscription packages that could replace cable services. These ambitious additions are thought to contribute to the delay, along with content-negotiation complications caused by the as-of-yet unfinished merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/07/appletv_0.jpg" width="620" height="432" /></p><p>"On the content side, cable executives and TV programmers say Apple has bit off more than it can chew and deny they’re the holdup," the report says. "They say Apple needs permission from multiple types of rights holders to create the service it wants to offer." Apple, the report says, claims cable companies are "dragging their heels."</p><p>Apple must be used to these delays by now. About a year ago, the Cupertino company <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_apple_twc_ubisoft_hacked_atv_flash_23_black_updated" target="_blank">was said to be</a> in the final stages of a deal with Time Warner cable to bring live programming to Apple TV, but that plan dissolved&nbsp;when the cable giant announced it would be <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/comcast_throws_45b_time_warner_cable_own_its_soul" target="_blank">acquired by Comcast</a>. In response, Apple <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_negotiating_comcast_about_streaming_tv_service" target="_blank">shifted its attention</a>&nbsp;to Comcast.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/new-apple-tv-delayed-wont-launch-before-2015#commentsNewsApple TVBusinesscableComcastiOS 7Time-WarnerWed, 30 Jul 2014 23:42:41 +0000Leif Johnson20394 at http://www.maclife.comThe Week's 10 Hottest Apple News Stories, March 28http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/weeks_10_hottest_apple_news_stories_march_28
<!--paging_filter--><p>Why wouldn't we start in with the iPhone 6 rumors already? The year is creeping on by, getting ever closer to the next handset drop date, so let's see what's cooking in that and other stories this week. But as we look forward to the iPhone's future, we also get an inside look at the past, where it all began. Plus games and TV news and more in this week's hottest news roundup.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/weeks_10_hottest_apple_news_stories_march_28#commentsGalleryNewsAppsComcastgamesIn-App PurchasesiPadiphoneiphone 6iphone 6 rumorsiphone rumorsiTunesmacbook airMicrosoftmicrosoft office for ipadOfficeretina displayRumorsSamsungstreamingtelevisionSat, 29 Mar 2014 00:30:00 +0000J Keirn-Swanson19645 at http://www.maclife.comApple Negotiating with Comcast About Streaming TV Servicehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_negotiating_comcast_about_streaming_tv_service
<!--paging_filter--><p>Apple's fight to bring on-demand cable programming to Apple TV via Time Warner might have <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/time_warner_cables_netflix_ambitions_could_be_squashed_comcast" target="_blank">fallen apart</a> in the wake of the media giant's upcoming merger with Comcast, but now the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303949704579457554242014552" target="_blank"><em>Wall Street Journal</em> </a>reports that Apple's in similar talks with Comcast itself. Much as with the previous plan, the new deal would see the Cupertino company working hand-in-hand with Comcast to stream a wide variety of the service's channels for a monthly subscription.</p><p>Apple reportedly wants preferential treatment under the proposed agreement, to the point that its Comcast content would continue streaming seamlessly even when other users are subject to the occasional bandwidth and traffic strains Comcast is known for. (So much for Net Neutrality.) The problem is that such a project would require a massive overhaul of Comcast's infrastructure, which means that we may not see the fruits of these discussions for years.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/03/comcast.jpg" width="620" height="348" /></p><p>That's just as well, as the <em>Journal</em> reports that the two parties are nowhere close to finalizing anything. Apple will also need to obtain the rights to stream the content in question, which may lead to a delay that's similar to what we saw in the months leading up to the release of iTunes Radio.</p><p>Television has proved an enticing market for Apple for years. Walter Isaacson's autobiography of Jobs reported that the Apple co-founder claimed he had "cracked the code" for TV shortly before his death, and the recent flood of attention given to Apple TV suggests Apple might be trying to put those ideas in motion. If anything, it's clear that Apple TV is no longer the simple "hobby" Apple once claimed it to be.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">&nbsp;Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_negotiating_comcast_about_streaming_tv_service#commentsNewsApple TVcableComcastentertainmentiOS 7streamingtelevisionTVMon, 24 Mar 2014 23:59:17 +0000Leif Johnson19614 at http://www.maclife.comTime Warner Cable's Netflix Ambitions Could Be Squashed by Comcasthttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/time_warner_cables_netflix_ambitions_could_be_squashed_comcast
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/time_warner_cable_remote_620px.png" alt="Time Warner Cable remote control" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Streaming giant Netflix might have scored its biggest coup to date by being bundled with Time Warner Cable service, but Comcast's acquisition ambitions could very well put the brakes on those plans.<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-17/netflix-talks-for-time-warner-cable-carriage-said-to-slow.html" target="_blank"><br />Bloomberg reported Tuesday</a> that Comcast's proposed $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable could have ripple effects beyond the respective companies' traditional product offerings, threatening the launch of an internet-infused set-top box platform.<br /><br />Time Warner Cable is said to have been well into negotiations with Netflix to include its streaming video catalog as part of the traditional cable television content offered on its set-top boxes. Those plans could now be derailed completely by Comcast, who reportedly is also in early discussions with Netflix.<br /><br />Comcast's own X1 box shines a spotlight on streaming content, including movie and TV show sales or rentals as well as services such as Netflix -- but analysts note that Comcast hasn't been as aggressive as Time Warner in embracing such streaming rivals.<br /><br />“They will not be in any kind of rush to let Netflix on their cable box and cannibalize their business,” said Arvind Bhatia, an analyst at Sterne Agee &amp; Leach Inc.<br /><br />With 44.4 million online subscribers, Netflix has been successful thus far at signing with two European cable providers, but is now eyeing further growth by piggybacking onto services that use TiVo-branded set-top boxes. By comparison, the combined Comcast and Time Warner would make up the largest cable conglomerate with nearly 30 million subscribers.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/time_warner_cables_netflix_ambitions_could_be_squashed_comcast#commentsNewscable boxesCable TVComcastcontent providersnetflixset-top boxstreaming videotelevisionTime Warner CableX1iPadiPhoneiPodMacTue, 18 Feb 2014 14:05:24 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19346 at http://www.maclife.comComcast Throws $45B at Time Warner Cable to Own Its Soulhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/comcast_throws_45b_time_warner_cable_own_its_soul
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/comcast_trucks_620px.png" alt="Comcast trucks" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>As has been widely rumored in recent months, cable giant Comcast has gone from gobbling up NBCUniversal to making a tasty snack of its longtime rival, Time Warner Cable, in a deal valued at more than $45 billion.<br /><br /><a href="http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/comcast-set-to-acquire-time-warner-cable/" target="_blank"><em>The New York Times</em> reported Wednesday</a> that Comcast will acquire Time Warner Cable in an all-stock deal worth upwards of $45 billion — provided regulators don't come up with very good reasons to kill the deal.<br /><br />Assuming it moves forward, however, the acquisition would put the nation's two largest cable television providers under the same roof, effectively ending Charter Communications' recent overtures to absorb Time Warner Cable for their very own.<br /><br />Federal regulators may have a tricky time coming up with reasons to kick the deal to the curb, however: There are virtually no overlapping markets where Comcast and Time Warner Cable currently compete for customers, so critics won't be able to lodge anti-competitive complaints.<br /><br />"Nonetheless, regulators will surely look carefully at the impact on the deal to consumers, and may also focus on whether the combined company will have additional power in negotiations with cable networks, a recent source of tension in the industry," the report noted.<br /><br />Comcast expects to close the deal by the end of this year, effectively merging its own 22 million television customers with as many as 11 million Time Warner customers — although it could potentially forfeit up to three million of those if it keeps antitrust regulators happy.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/comcast_throws_45b_time_warner_cable_own_its_soul#commentsNewsacquisitionsantitrustCable TVComcastcustomersDealsNBC UniversalregulatorstelevisionTime Warner CableThu, 13 Feb 2014 14:49:31 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19317 at http://www.maclife.comRovio Premiering In-App Angry Birds Toons Channel This Weekendhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/rovio_premiering_inapp_angry_birds_toons_channel_weekend
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/angry_birds_toons_200px.png" alt="Angry Birds Toons" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />It's no secret that the makers of Angry Birds want to become bigger than Disney, and starting March 17, they'll have their first crack at doing just that by bringing their iconic mobile game to the cartoon world.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.rovio.com/en/news/press-releases/276/rovio-entertainment-to-launch-one-of-the-world’s-biggest-video-networks-in-its-games/" target="_blank">Rovio announced Monday</a> that Angry Birds Toons will debut this weekend with a dedicated video distribution channel available from an unlikely place: The company's own mobile apps.<br /><br />"On the weekend of March 16-17th, Angry Birds fans can watch the latest adventures of the birds and pigs through a dedicated channel available in Rovio games, as well as on select video-on-demand channel providers, Smart TVs and connected devices," the company teased in a press release. "Additionally, the Angry Birds Toons series will also air on select TV networks around the world."<br /><br />Featuring 52 episodes with a new one rolling out each week, Angry Birds Toons will actually hit the airwaves first on March 16, followed by the app-based and VOD premiere the following day.<br /><br />Curiously, the television debut will not include the United States -- instead, Angry Birds Toons will be shown in Australia, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Finland, Israel, Ukraine, France, Germany, Norway, Chile and Brazil.<br /><br />But fear not, U.S. Angry Birds fans: If you have Comcast's Xfinity or a Samsung Smart TV, you'll be able to install the Angry Birds Toons channel, which will also arrive at a later date on the Roku as well.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter<br /></a></em></p><p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p_7JjB0At_s" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/rovio_premiering_inapp_angry_birds_toons_channel_weekend#commentsNewsAngry BirdsAngry Birds Toonsapp updatescartoonsComcastmobile gamingRokuRovioSamsungtelevision showsiPadiPhoneiPodTue, 12 Mar 2013 13:09:15 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16459 at http://www.maclife.comThe Best Internet Set Up for Streaming Video http://www.maclife.com/article/features/best_internet_set_streaming_video
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="http://www.maclife.com/files/u325188/2012/05/06apextreme_back1.jpg" width="620" height="161" class="thickbox" /></p><p>Streaming entertainment is more convenient than juggling Blu-ray and DVD discs, but it demands a fast pipe to your internet service provider, or ISP. For instance, Netflix recommends download speeds of at least 3Mbps for the best video quality, while Apple suggests 8Mbps for streaming 1080p content from iTunes. In most of the country, getting these broadband speeds means signing up for one of two kinds of internet connection: DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or cable.</p><h3>DSL vs. Cable</h3><p>DSL comes into your house over a standard telephone line, offering top download speeds of up to 40Mbps. Cable arrives over the same coaxial cable that delivers cable TV, and boasts speeds up to 100Mbps. In both cases, those impressive numbers are purely theoretical. Real-world performance will fluctuate depending on where you are and when you stream. DSL slows down the farther your house is from a telephone hub, and cable's speed varies depending on how many of your neighbors are online simultaneously. But depending on where you live, you may not have a choice about which service is available, and generally both deliver the performance you need to watch streaming video comfortably. Just be sure to get the best plan you can afford. Most ISPs offer multiple broadband plans, and the more you pay, the faster your internet will be.</p><h3>Getting the Router Right</h3><p>With the right connection to your ISP, you'll need the right router to distribute it to the devices in your Local Area Network, or LAN. If you already have an older 802.11g Wi-Fi router, it's time to upgrade to one with 802.11n, the fastest spec available. For the best performance and wireless range, look for a dual-band router that lets devices operate simultaneously on the 2.4GHz and faster 5GHz wireless bands. And handy as Wi-Fi is, consider getting a router with Gigabit (aka 1000Base-T) Ethernet built-in. These wired ports can deliver data directly to an Apple TV or Roku box much faster than Wi-Fi, freeing your LAN's wireless network for the devices that really need it, like iPads and iPhones. Apple's Airport Extreme ($179, <a href="http://www.apple.com/airportextreme" target="_blank">apple.com/airportextreme</a>) fits the bill nicely, but many other options are available.</p><p>Once you have a new router, don't let spotty Wi-Fi ruin movie night. To avoid interference, position the router away from things like microwave ovens, cordless phones, or brick walls. Software and firmware updates will fix bugs and improve features, so be sure your router's software is up to date. If you're still having problems, or if you have a large area to blanket with Wi-Fi, extend your wireless network by combining multiple routers. You can do this wirelessly, but to ensure the best speeds and the strongest possible signal, connect each router with Gigabit Ethernet instead.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/features/best_internet_set_streaming_video#commentsAirPort ExtremeappleAT&TcableComcastDSLethernetportsroutersvideo streamingWi-FiFeaturesThu, 24 May 2012 18:30:31 +0000Adam Berenstain 14118 at http://www.maclife.comRumor: Hulu’s Free Ride May Be Coming to An End -- Eventuallyhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/rumor_hulu%E2%80%99s_free_ride_may_be_coming_end_eventually
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/hulu_plus_login_200px.jpg" alt="Hulu Plus login" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Enjoying all that free content on Hulu.com? Quite happy to watch network TV shows the day after they air on your HDTV via Hulu Plus? Well, enjoy it while it lasts, because the content providers appear hellbent on ruining a good thing.<br /><em><br /><a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/tv_in_real_dime_ph0GiKk7rC9agDUEkHae2I" target="_blank">The New York Post</a></em><a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/tv_in_real_dime_ph0GiKk7rC9agDUEkHae2I" target="_blank"> is reporting</a> that Hulu’s ad-supported free ride may eventually sputter and run out of gas, at least if the television networks have anything to say about it. That’s because the streaming company may one day require viewers to authenticate a cable or satellite TV account in order to let the good times roll on.<br /><br />You may have already heard about this authentication scheme, referred to as “TV Everywhere” -- it’s currently in use by HBO for the pay cable channel’s HBO Go app on various platforms, and the Fox network is scheming to introduce the model to Comcast viewers as well.<br /><br />“The move toward authentication is fueled by cable companies and networks looking to protect and profit from their content,” the report notes. “The effort comes as entertainment companies continue to face drastic shifts in home viewing habits. Overall spending on home entertainment edged up 2.5 percent to $4.45 billion in the first quarter as a surge in digital streaming -- which rose more than fivefold to $549 million -- offset a continuing collapse in video rentals, according to Digital Entertainment Group.”<br /><br />Hulu is jointly owned by News Corp. (Fox), Disney, Comcast and Providence Equity Partners, the latter of which is eager to “cash out of Hulu after five years,” according to sources. The proposed authentication scheme could see Hulu’s fortunes shrink, even as the company rang up $420 million in ad sales last year and is expected to do even better in 2012.<br /><br />The only good news in this mess is that Hulu’s attempts to move toward authentication “could take years to complete” -- so let’s hope that executives can come to their senses before then.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/rumor_hulu%E2%80%99s_free_ride_may_be_coming_end_eventually#commentsNewsauthenticationbummercable networksCable TVComcastFoxHBOHuluHulu PlusNews Corp.TV EverywhereTue, 01 May 2012 12:48:55 +0000J.R. Bookwalter13960 at http://www.maclife.comCES: Comcast Reveals Streaming Content Planshttp://www.maclife.com/article/ipad/ces_comcast_reveals_streaming_content_plans
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u286882/comcast200.jpg" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />No matter whether you love them or hate them, its a fact that Comcast touches the lives of millions of Americans on a daily basis. Later this year, the cable giant's reach will become that much more pervasive as the company has unveiled plans to offer at home streaming of TV content to tablet wielding Comcast subscribers as well as access to on-demand content while on the go. <br /><br />As part of the company's presentation to an eager geek crowd at this year's CES, Comcast announced that their Xfinity TV iPad app now boasted upwards of 3000 hours worth of content for on-demand viewing. Speaking on behalf of the company Comcast's CEO Brian Roberts stated that, "Comcast has a series of upcoming online enhancements and app releases that are part of a much larger effort to reinvent how customers interact with their entertainment on TV, online and on mobile devices."<br /><br />No doubt Comcast subscribers will be finding out what those offerings will be in the weeks and months to come.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>Follow this article's author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/SeamusBellamy" target="_blank">Seamus Bellamy on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/ipad/ces_comcast_reveals_streaming_content_plans#commentsNewsCES 2011ComcastStreaming mediatabletsTViPadWed, 05 Jan 2011 19:16:01 +0000Seamus Bellamy9414 at http://www.maclife.comPodcast #168: Comcast Angers the Internet and Cameras on the iPadhttp://www.maclife.com/article/podcast_168_comcast_angers_internet_and_cameras_ipad
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="http://www.maclife.com/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images2/podcast_220.jpg" width="220" height="219" class="graphic-right" />If a day ends in Y, we know it's ripe for a new iPad rumor. Today's rumor involves a lens supplier being picked for the next generation iPad. We're excited about a front-facing camera. A camera on the back, not so much. <br /><br />Comcast gets in a public spat with backbone ISP Level 3. We try to get all mad at Comcast, but because of lack of information we end being logical. Damn you logic!</p><p>This week's <strong>Battlestar Applactica</strong> picks:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cribbage-hd/id363691477?mt=8" target="_blank"><strong>Cribbage HD - $2.99</strong></a><br /><br /></p><p>Hey! Got a how to idea for us? Tell us about it! <a href="http://facebook.com/maclife" target="_blank">Visit our Facebook page</a> or just leave a message on the <em>Mac</em>|<em>Live</em> question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review them and feature our favorites, along with responses, on next week's podcast. <br /><br />Got a question and don't feel like leaving us a voicemail? Drop us a question via Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/maclife" target="_blank">twitter.com/maclife</a>.</p><p>To subscribe to the <em>Mac</em>|<em>Live</em> podcast series through an RSS feed, click <a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/maclife/audio/" target="_blank">here</a>; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=252335711" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/podcast_168_comcast_angers_internet_and_cameras_ipad#commentsAppscameraComcastiPad AppsiPhone appslevel 3mac appsNet NeutralityRumorsMac|Live PodcastMac|LifePodcast #168: Comcast Angers the Internet and Cameras on the iPadIf a day ends in Y, we know it's ripe for a new iPad rumor. Today's rumor involves a lens supplier being picked for the next generation iPad. We're excited about a front-facing camera. A camera on the back, not so much.
Comcast gets in a public spat with backbone ISP Level 3. We try to get all mad at Comcast, but because of lack of information we end being logical. Damn you logic!ipad, camera, rumors, comcast, level 3 net neutralityno00:30:20Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:31:23 +0000Mac|Life Staff9087 at http://www.maclife.comWhy Net Neutrality Mattershttp://www.maclife.com/article/blogs/why_net_neutrality_matters
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u286882/comcast200.jpg" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />According to a reports from a number of <a href="http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/netflix-partner-says-comcast-toll-threatens-online-video-delivery/" target="_blank">credible sources</a>, it looks as though <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/comcast_releases_xfinity_remote_ipad_and_iphone" target="_self">Comcast</a> has had just about enough of streaming content providers, or more to the point, <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/netflix_streaming_only_subscriptions_now_available" target="_self">Netflix</a>. Back on November 19th, the company, which is no stranger to bullying high-bandwidth users, informed <a href="http://www.level3.com/" target="_blank">Level 3 Communications</a>--the contractor responsible for making Netflix’s streaming magic happen--that they would be forced to pay a toll for the privilege of being able to transmit content to end-users on their network. The broad strokes of the story are that Level 3 gave into Comcast’s demands in order to ensure uninterrupted Netflix service to the millions of Comcast users who rely upon the streaming service for the few hours of media-enabled escapism that their day affords. However, looking deeper into the issue, the devil is most certainly in the details.</p><p>With the recent announcement that Netflix is responsible for close to 20% of all downstream Internet traffic during peak usage hours, it was only a matter of time before an ISP decided to take a swipe at them. It should come as no surprise that Comcast would be the ones to deliver the upstart DVD delivery and video streaming service the comeuppance they apparently deserved. After all, aside from their being one of the largest ISPs in the United States, the company also holds stakes in cable and their very own Fancast media streaming solution: two businesses that the growing popularity of Netflix directly threatens. It’s because of conflicts of interest exactly like this that the debate over Net Neutrality has become such a hot topic. For some time now, the Federal government, and a number of companies with vested interests and somewhat less than scrupulous designs on the subject, have been trying to come to an something resembling an agreement on the matter. Without a law--or at the very least, a code of conduct that ISPs can agree to adhere to--there is nothing to stop a company from throttling specific types of data traffic or refusing access to their networks should it please them to do so.</p><p><br />This, as we can now see, is exactly what Comcast is doing. Why are they doing it? We’d suggest that Netflix’s success arguably comes at a loss from Comcast’s coffers. As such, Comcast has opted to try and recoup some of that potentially lost on-demand media and cable revenue by charging Netflix, by way of Level 3 Communications, a toll before allowing them to deliver their wares to Comcast subscribers. On Comcast’s <a href="http://blog.comcast.com/2010/11/comcast-comments-on-level-3.html" target="_blank">corporate blog</a> this morning, the company’s Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Public Policy Counsel Joe Waz argues his employer’s dispute with Level 3 Communications is the result of Comcast’s not getting back as much as they are giving:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>"To be lasting, business relationships should be mutually beneficial. In cases where the benefit we receive is in line with the benefit we deliver, we will exchange traffic on a settlement-free basis. Contrary to [other ISPs] public statements, reasonable, balanced, and mutually beneficial agreements for the exchange of traffic do not represent a threat to the Internet. They don't represent a threat to anyone other than those trying to get a free ride on someone else's network."</em></p><p>This would be a reasonable position, were the issue at stake one surrounding the exclusive business dealings of the two companies. However, that’s not what we have here. Comcast isn’t holding access to their network hostage because of anything that Level 3 Communications or Netflix has done to them. They’re enforcing a toll on content that their internet service provision customers have already paid for. If Level 3 Communications hadn’t agreed to pay Comcast’s ransom, it’s very likely that the ISP’s customers would be cut off from Netflix by now. That’s not good business.</p><p>It’s not even smart business.</p><p>It’s saying that your bottom line is more important than your customer’s desires. In the end, that kind of behaviour could end up costing them more from lost consumer revenue than they could ever made off of any tariff they felt fit to charge another business. This is why <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/feature/google_verizon_net_neutrality_pact_10_years_future" target="_self">net neutrality</a> is so important. When private interests are left to decide how and what the paying public can access via the internet, everybody loses.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>Follow this article's author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/SeamusBellamy" target="_blank">Seamus Bellamy on Twitter</a></em></p><p><em><br /></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/blogs/why_net_neutrality_matters#commentsBlogsblogComcastend userLegalNet NeutralitynetflixopinionsskullduggeryTue, 30 Nov 2010 21:35:18 +0000Seamus Bellamy9083 at http://www.maclife.comComcast Loves the iPadhttp://www.maclife.com/article/ipad/comcast_loves_ipad
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u286882/comcast_logo_5.jpg" width="380" height="253" /></p><p>During their third quarter earnings conference held by <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101027005047/en/Comcast-Reports-Quarter-2010-Results" target="_blank">Comcast</a> yesterday, it was revealed that the company's fortunes were looking pretty rosy: Revenue has increased by 7%, operating cash flow and income had gone up and best of all, the was reportedly sitting on $1 billion in cash. With things running so smoothly, you'd think it would be business as usual and cable boxes for everyone. According to the company's CEO, this won't be the case for long. Comcast has seen the future of content delivery, and for them at least, it's a future that belongs to devices like the <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/columns/best_case_scenario_bluetooth_keyboard_cases_ipad" target="_self">iPad</a>.</p><p>Where many content providers have been shying away from internet-based delivery of premium television and movies in the name of protecting their incomes, Comcast is looking to embrace the emerging technologies that will not only make streaming media content more viable, but also freaking awesome. In an interview with <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/comcast-ceo-ipad-tablets-give-us-ability-to-start-from-scratch-on-tv-interface/40976" target="_blank">ZDNet</a>, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts admitted that chief among the pieces of tech that <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/editors_blog_susies_comcast_is_the_devil_rant" target="_self">Comcast</a> is excited about is Apple's iPad. Taking a big, deep breath, Roberts declared the following to ZDNet:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>We are very excited about the iPad. It gives us a chance to start from scratch with a user interface that is using Web technology, not the cable box technology. This week we relaunched Xfinity TV, our authenticated on-demand online service, with a new and I think great marketing campaign. Xfinity TV gives customers online access to 150,000 entertainment choices including movies, TV shows, premium and HD content with a compelling search and discovery platform. All of our digital video customers will receive a customer ID to access Xfinity TV for no extra cost. It’s a tremendous value-added service. And before the end of this year we will be launching the Xfinity TV remote app which will work on all the iPhones and iPads and eventually, right after they come out, on the Android-based tablets. This is an entirely new form factor and device for consumers, these tablets, which I think makes the search and discovery and the enjoyment of television that much greater because we have all been looking for how to navigate these 150,000 choices or whatever the consumer actually has. And this, with the touch of a finger, allows you to change channels as well as to search and discovery. I think you will like it when you get one. So as you can see, we have an exciting roadmap for new product introductions and we are delivering more and faster innovation to our customers. All of these enhancements and new features really are starting to bring to life our Xfinity brand and you are going to continue to see and hear many new products from Comcast in the months and years ahead.</em></p><p>Now if that isn't a vote of confidence in Apple and their ability to change the way consumers view and interact with the everyday world through technology, I don't know what is. Here's hoping that Comcast's putting all of their digital eggs in one awesome basket will pay off for both the company and consumers in the days to come.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>Follow this article's author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/SeamusBellamy" target="_blank">Seamus Bellamy on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em><br /></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em><br /></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/ipad/comcast_loves_ipad#commentsNewsComcastHD videoiPadStreaming mediaiPadWed, 27 Oct 2010 17:38:40 +0000Seamus Bellamy8732 at http://www.maclife.comNet Neutrality: Follow the Moneyhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/net_neutrality_follow_money
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u32/1027_fcc_380.jpg" width="380" height="214" /></p><table border="0" align="right"><tbody><tr><td><script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[
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// ]]></script><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p>&nbsp;</p><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It’s been framed as a fight for freedom but Net Neutrality is really a battle of business models. The outcome will almost certainly affect We The People’s wallets or/and Internet experience so we’d best keep a wary eye on everyone who is trying to “help” us.</p><p>The latest skirmish began last Thursday when the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to begin work on formalizing a set of rules that would, among other things, <a href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-93A1.pdf" target="_blank">bar (PDF link)</a> Internet service providers from blocking legal content or altering the delivery speed of content based on who owns it, who created it or who wants to access it.</p><p>The FCC has stated that Thursday’s vote simply opens the subject for official discussion, with the goal of codifying principles that have been applied on a case by case basis over recent years. Many, many months of discussion are expected before anything becomes law. But the battle lines have been drawn.</p><p>ISPs argue that they own the infrastructure that delivers the bandwidth, they have to maintain it and support their customers and therefore should be able to manage the services they provide in order to reduce network congestion and maximize profits. Internet Application companies, businesses who offer services and content via the Internet, are usually in favor of Net Neutrality because they want to get their stuff to customers without having to pay more to do so.</p><p>One of the ways an ISP could ramp up profits is to make deals with Internet Application companies who would pay more to provide consumers with an optimum experience. If, say, your company streams video you could pay an ISP to ensure that viewers can access your service at the best possible speeds. So the people watching your videos will be happily munching popcorn while your competitor’s viewers are throwing their popcorn at their computer’s screen in frustration.</p><p>Pay-for-optimum-play service agreements would also affect small businesses and entrepreneurs. If you are a kid in a dorm room with a few bucks and a plan for the next Google, Twitter, YouTube or Facebook you may find that a big corporation can deliver a less-innovative offering more effectively because they can afford to pay ISPs for first class delivery service.</p><p>Net Neutrality rules are intended to ban such speed machinations but the FCC’s Net Neutrality proposal specifically does not block the practice of “throttling,” which typically involves reducing the quality of service provided to the ISP’s most active users after a predetermined amount of data has been downloaded. Most ISPs tend to slow P2P or other resource-hungry network activity.</p><p>The FCC’s Net Neutrality proposal specifies that broadband providers would be allowed to “engage in reasonable network management” as long as ISPs are open about the fact that they are throttling. ISPs would also be able to “develop and deploy new technologies and business models, including by offering managed or specialized services that are distinct from traditional broadband Internet access service.”</p><p>There are good arguments to be made on both sides of the Net Neutrality argument, but those who are currently shaping the conversation have apparently decided not to simply present their business case to the general public. Thankfully no one has yet figured out a way to tie Net Neutrality to Protecting The Children, but tried and true concepts like “Freedom” and “Government Interference” and “Greedy Big Business” plus “Jobs” and “Innovation” are being flung about with great abandon.</p><p>The National Cable and Telecommunications Association did a great job of hitting all the right points in their response to the FCC’s vote:</p><p><em>“(the organization) support(s) a free and open Internet. However, we continue to believe the broadband marketplace is an unparalleled American success story and already offers consumers an open Internet experience. So, we welcome the opportunity to make our case that investment, innovation and consumer welfare are all enhanced by continued government restraint. Given the tremendously high stakes, we hope the Commission will approach these issues with a healthy skepticism of hypothetical harms, and with a full understanding of the very real consequences that regulatory action may have on investment, job creation, and the continued expansion and improvement of next generation networks.”</em></p><p>The freedom from government interference rallying cry has been echoed by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz), who just happens to be the biggest beneficiary of political contributions from telecommunications companies according to data provided by <a href="http://realtime.sunlightprojects.org/2009/10/22/fighting-net-neutrality-telecom-companies-outside-lobbyists-cluster-contributions-to-members-of-congress" target="_blank">the Sunlight Foundation</a>. Last Friday McCain introduced the Internet Freedom Act, which would prohibit the FCC from “proposing, promulgating, or issuing any regulations regarding the Internet or IP-enabled services.” in order to keep the Internet “free from government control.”</p><p>It’s easy for a tech-loving person to dismiss McCain, who admitted that he, according to an interview printed 7/13/2006 in <em>The New York Times</em>, has never “felt a particular need to e-mail.” But arguments made by the other side are equally self-serving and shrouded in rhetoric. As thirty venture capitalists stated in an open letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski:</p><p><em>“The promise of permanently securing an open Internet will deliver consumers and innovators a perfect free market that drives investment, job creation, and consumer welfare. These principles should apply across all Internet access networks, wired or wireless. Investment and innovation at the edge of the network will create not just jobs but also new tools and opportunities for communication, education, health care, business, and every other human endeavor.”</em></p><p>Since everyone is beating the patriotic drum it might be best to reflect on what our founding fathers -- the folks who initially developed the protocols that power the internet -- have to say about Net Neutrality. Their beliefs are laid out in an <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/Net%20Pioneers%20Letter%20to%20Chairman%20Genachowski%20Oct09.pdf" target="_blank">open letter (PDF Link)</a> from Vince Cerf, Stephen D. Crocker, David Reed, Lauren Weinstein and Daniel Lynch to the FCC.</p><p>This letter states that the FCC’s “network neutrality proposal’s key principles of ‘nondiscrimination’ and ‘transparency’ are necessary components of a pro-innovation public policy agenda for this nation” noting that “successful companies have deployed their services on the Internet without the need to negotiate special arrangements with Internet Service Providers, and it's crucial that future innovators have the same opportunity. We are advocates for ‘permissionless innovation’ that does not impede entrepreneurial enterprise.”</p><p>The letter then states that “One persistent myth is that …network neutrality would forbid charging users higher fees for faster speed circuits. To the contrary, we believe such features are permitted within a ‘network neutral’ framework, so long they are not applied in an anti-competitive fashion.”</p><p>Critics of Net Neutrality have warned that if ISPs aren’t allowed to extract money from Internet Application companies they are likely to start charging consumers on a per-gigabyte-usage basis. We’re far from any final word on Net Neutrality, but don’t be shocked if the combatants ultimately all agree that pay-for-play is fine as long as consumers are the ones who are paying.</p><p>For a hilarious take on the current state of Net Neutrality, check out the clip from The Daily Show below.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><table style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: #333333; background-color: #f5f5f5; width: 360px; height: 353px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com" target="_blank">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right; font-weight: bold">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-26-2009/from-here-to-neutrality" target="_blank">From Here to Neutrality</a></td></tr><tr style="height: 14px; background-color: #353535;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 360px; text-align: right;" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" target="_blank">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px" colspan="2"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="360" height="301" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="width" value="360" /><param name="height" value="301" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allownetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="autoPlay=false" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="src" value="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:252516" /><param name="style" value="display: block;" /><embed style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="360" height="301" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:252516" bgcolor="#000000" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="autoPlay=false" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px" colspan="2"><table style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; width: 100%; height: 100%;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes" target="_blank">Daily Show<br /> Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com" target="_blank">Political Humor</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health" target="_blank">Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/net_neutrality_follow_money#commentsNewsAT&TComcastInternetJohn McCainNet NeutralitySprintthey'll never take our FREEDOMverizonFeaturesiPhoneTue, 27 Oct 2009 20:47:14 +0000Michelle Delio5153 at http://www.maclife.comFCC Unleashes Net Neutrality Rules on ISPshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/fcc_unleashes_net_neutrality_rules_isps
<!--paging_filter--><p><img alt="NetNeutrality_FCC" class="graphic-right" height="150" src="/files/u12635/NetNeutrality_CB791273.jpg" width="200" />The FCC today announced a new set of rules that would keep Internet
Service Providers (ISPs) from blocking content and services from
users. The Internet as we know it is &quot;neutral&quot; meaning that most ISPs don't limit content from users, be it BitTorrent, streaming video, or anything else that can be <em>legally </em>transmitted through your connection. </p><p>Some providers, such as Comcast, AT&amp;T and Verizon, have taken measures to limit users from certain Internet data, most notably torrents. This has been the bane of many Internet users for the past few years and has sparked the Net Neutrality debate and a campaign to &quot;<a href="http://savetheinternet.com" target="_blank">Save The Internet</a>.&quot;</p><p>Today's <a href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-293567A1.pdf" target="_blank">speech [PDF link]</a> by the FCC assured consumers that their neutral Internet would remain such. One of the first rules mentioned is that ISP cannot block content, websites, or apps that compete with the company, or use a high amount of bandwidth.</p><p>Of course, this rule could mean that AT&amp;T might not be able to continue blocking VoIP apps, SlingPlayer, or other apps from the iPhone for use on the AT&amp;T wireless network. This would be great news for many iPhone users, but could end up costing consumers more for data plans. </p><p>Via <a href="http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/09/21/genachowski.details.net.neutrality/" target="_blank">Electronista</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/fcc_unleashes_net_neutrality_rules_isps#commentsNewsAT&TComcastFCCGovernmentInternetISPServiceverizoniPhoneMon, 21 Sep 2009 16:58:35 +0000Cory Bohon4982 at http://www.maclife.com